Cigar-box moistener



June 1, 1926;

J. ALLEN CIGAR BOX mpxsmnan Filed A ril so, 1925 Patented lune l,lfiiiifi.

UITED ST ldtfiii PTENT ()FFI'CB;

JOHN ALLEN, 013 BRAVJLEY, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO BAY C.GRISWOLD, OF BRAWLEY, CALIFORNIA.

CIGAR-BOX MOISTENER.

Application filed April 30, 1925. Serial No. 26,908.

This invention relates to devices applicable to cigar boxes formaintaining moisture within the cigar box so as to keep the cigarstherein moist and prevent their drying out.

view which will be made manifest in the fol- Lil lowing detaileddescription and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, referonce is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodimentof the inven tion, wherein Figure 1. is a perspective view of a cigarbox to which the improved cigar box moistener has been applied,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig.1, and

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view taken in'the direction of the arrow 3 uponFig. 2-

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar referencecharacters designate similar parts throughout, the conventional cigarbox is designated at B, which has the conventional hinge cover C.

The invention consists of a frame 10, preferablyformed of sheet metaland which is U-shaped in section. This frame is adapted to be positionedover the top edges of the walls of the box B. A transparent panel 11,which is preferably glass, is mounted upon the frame and extendsfroniside to side of the box B andpartially from the front of the boxtoward its rear. tainer is also mounted upon the frame 10 and cooperateswith the transparent panel 11 in forming a closure for the box. Thiscontainer is preferably formed of sheet metal and has a side wall 12extending upwardly from the rear edge of the transparent panel 11. It isprovided with a top wall 13 extending rearwardly, and a second side wall14 extending downwardly over the rear wall of the box B. End walls 15connect the end edges of the side walls 12 and 14 and the top wall 13.\Vithin this container there is ositioned a moistening element 16,which, iii-the preferred term of construction, is of porous stone, suchas sandstone, and which is capable of absorbing a considerable amount ofwater when imk mersed therein. A pair of arms 17 are pivoted to the rearends of the frame 10 and are adaptedto be swung under the moisteningelement 16 so as to support it within the container above the top edgesof the walls of the box B. These arms are preferably angular in crosssection so that they are comparatively stiff, and will thus provide asubstantial support for the moistening element 16'.

As a means for fastening the closure provided by the container and thetransparent 7 panel 11 to the conventional cigar box, there is provideda suitable sectionof wire 18 having its ends fastened to the rearwardends of the frame 10. This wire is bent upwardly over the top surface ofthe cover C. It will be noted that the side wall 14 of the contain'ercooperates with the wire 18 to provide a clamp for resiliently engagingthe cover C. The ends of the wire 18 extend over the side edges of thecover C, and in 897 this manner the cover C may be inserted between thewire 18 and the side wall 14 When the closure "is applied to the cigarbox, it is detac-hably fastened to the cover C in such a manner thanwhen the closure is in ing matter which may been the under side 0 of thecover C.

By swinging the cover C backwardly, the closure will be raised to permitcigars to be withdrawn from the interior of the box B. It will be notedthat the moistening element 16, because of its position, in no 'wayreduces the interior volume of the box,

and the device can be applied to a freshly opened box of cigars withoutremoving any of the cigars in it. When the box has become emptied, thedevice can be withdrawn or removed and applied to a new box of cigars.

It will be understood that the device is not limited to the exactstructure of the stone of abserbent or porous character, h

V which which'has been soaked in water, keeps about the required amountof moisture within the box without causing the air therein to become toomoist or too dry.

If desired, a resilient element 19 can be mounted upon the top edges ofthe box B, resilient element is preferably formed of rubber havingdepending flanges 20 adapted to grip the faces of the walls of the box,thus providing a resilient seat for the closure, which will prevent theescape of moist air from within the box when the closure in closedposition. The weight of the closure and the moistening element 16normally maintain the cover C and the closure in the position shown inFig. 1. If the moistening element 16' dries out in the course of time,the arms 17 may be swung toward the sides of the frame 10 and themoistening element can be withdrawn and again soaked in water, and thenreplaced in the container on the closure.

It will be understood that various changes in the detail of constructionmay be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionas defined by the appended claims.

' I claim:

1. A. cigar box moistener comprising a frame, a transparent panelmounted on the frame and extending partially over the cigar box, meansfor detachably securing the frame to the cover of the box, meansproviding side, top and end walls upon the frame over the opening leftby the transparent panel, and a moistening element removably disposedwithin said walls.

2. A cigar box moistener comprising a frame, a transparent panel mountedon the frame and extending partially over the cigar box, means fordetachably securing the frame to the cover of the box, means providingside, top and end walls upon the frame over the opening left by thetransparent panel, a moistening element removably disposed within saidwalls, and arms pivoted to said frame adapted to be swung beneath saidmoistening element so as to support it.

3. A cigar box moistener comprising a frame adapted to be positionedover the top edges of a, cigar box, a transparent panel mounted on theframe and extending from side to side and from the front toward the rearof the box, a container having a side wall extending upwardly from therear edge of said panel, a top wall extending rearwardly from the top ofthe side wall, a second side wall extending downwardly from the topwall, end walls connecting the end ecges of said side and top walls, anda inoistening element disposed within said walls.

4; A cigar box moistener comprising a frame adapted to be positionedover the top edges of a cigar box, a transparent panel mounted on theframe and extending from side to side and from the front toward the rearof the box, a container having a side wall extending upwardly from therear edge of said panel, a topwall extending rearwardly from the top ofthe side wall, a second side wall extending downwardly from the topwall, end walls connecting the end edges of said side and top walls, amoistening element disposed within said walls, and arms pivoted upon theframe adapted to be swung beneath said moistenin element to support it.

o. A cigar box moistener comprising a frame adapted to be positionedover the top edges of a cigar box, a transparent panel mounted on theframe and extending from side to side and from the front toward the rearof the box, a container having a side wall extending upwardly from therear edge of said panel, a top wall extending rearwardly from the top ofthe side wall, a second side wall extending downwardly from the topwall, end walls connecting the end edges of said side and top walls, amoistening element disposed within said walls, and means for detachablysecuring said frame to the cover of the cigar box in such a manner thatwhen the transparent panel is in horizontal position, the cover of thebox will be in raised position and the panel can be swung upwardly byswinging the cover backwardly.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 1 name to this specification.

JOHN ALLEN.

